Taste Ards and North Down Membership Application 2025

Overview

Welcome to your 2025 membership application, this form also doubles as an annual update on business data that will assist the tourism development, events and economic development teams planning for the year ahead. 

Our planning for food festivals, experiences, trade shows and in the provision of business training  will be greatly enhanced by your completed applications.  Therefore, please take your time on this application and tell us what you need from your Taste AND membership.

There are three types of membership; full, associate and new (provisional).

Full membership is for the following:

1. Food and drink producers who are field to fork/glass or tide to table.
2. Local independent retailers (as a stockist for at least seven local producers).
3. Farm shops (as a stockist for at least seven local producers).
4. Restaurants and cafés (must source from at least five local producers). 
5. Hotels (must source from at least five local producers).

Associate membership is for:

1. Food sector academics/training staff.
2. Freelance chefs and cooks.
3. Weekly or monthly markets.
4. Cookery schools.
5. International cuisine restaurants who support food events.
6. Visitor attractions, venues and accommodation providers who incorporate use of local food and drink.
7. Catering businesses provided they are linked to a local produce business or a smallholding.

New (provisional) membership is for:

1. Established food and drink businesses that have not been a Taste AND member in the last year.
2. Brand new food and drink businesses that have would benefit from participating in network activities.
3. Businesses that have recently moved into the area.
4. Any business that is less than two years old with an insufficient business record to meet the criteria of full or associated membership. 

If you are unsure about which membership status is right for you, please contact the food and drink development officer.

Why your views matter

Membership is open until midnight on Sunday 19 January 2025. 

The deadline will not be extended and we will not accept Full or Associate applications after this date, Applications will re-open for new (provisional) members on 1 March 2025 and will remain open throughout the year. 

Failure to secure membership by the verification deadline of 1 March 2025 will mean all other business contact details are removed from the food and drink business contact list for one year. This means you will not receive communications on any Taste Ards and North Down opportunities at events, training, programming or other activities until January 2026. 

Please see the link to the draft membership governance 2025 document to which all members must comply.  Your membership is not confirmed until your place is formally verified and your membership charge received.  This year’s membership charge is £35 per business.